GRASKOP – Mpumalanga is said to be the third most-popular destination for international tourist arrivals. A proposed skywalk at God’s Window, similar to the one at the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA, aims to boost tourism even more, but its future hangs in the balance.
The final environmental impact assessment (EIA) report has been submitted to the department of environmental affairs (DEA), and is awaiting approval.
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform had already stated that it did not have any objections to the proposed development, and fully supported the undertakings.
However, the Department of Water and Sanitation said a water-use licence was required to abstract groundwater. Any development within the 1:100 flood line constituted a water-use activity and therefore required a licence. The sewage-treatment-system method statement would also need to be sent to the department. This licence would be applied for, once the DEA accepted the EIA report which was expected to be on May 18. The reason being that an acceptance letter from the DEA was required to be submitted as part of the water-use licence application.
In short, the proposed skywalk was envisaged to be a glass walkway, extending some 30 metres from the canyon’s edge, offering a 360-degree panoramic view with a 700-metre vertical drop below, abutting a green concept building which would house a restaurant, museum and gift shop.
The green concept building would have, among others, a vegetated roof, solar chilling, heating via gas and strategically placed fireplaces, and harvesting of rainwater. Stakeholders hoped to allow communities and residents of nearby areas to derive economic benefits from the development of this portion of land.
These communities were therefore considered key stakeholders in the project. The Skywalk Project would be managed by a consortium involving the local communities surrounding God’s Window in partnership with the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) and other project developers including the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
A business-ownership model for the project was currently being developed to meet the demands of all parties concerned.
It will be located on farms, De Houtbosch and portion two of Farm Lisbon within the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCM), in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM), near Graskop and Pilgrim’s Rest.In this EIA, the site was classified as land with a low agricultural potential. Currently there were neither heritage sites nor cultural sites identified.

The Skywalk Complex will consist of a lower and upper level. The development includes (amongst others):

• Restaurant and Museum Area;
• Reception Lobby;
• Ablution Facilities;
• Admin Office;
• Skywalk Viewing Area;
• Formalised craft market area;
• Seepage Pond (to assist with run-off attenuation); and
• Formalised Parking Areas (160 light vehicles, 6 covered bus bays and 14 taxi shuttle bays).
• Upgrade to the existing pathways on site

The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is the second biggest attraction in Mpumalanga. It is also the world’s largest green canyon and the third largest overall. Reputed to be the third largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon and the Fish River Canyon (Northern Cape), it is a scenic spectacle within the 30 000 hectare Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve which also contains a major dam at the bottom.